Former Sussex County resident charged with rape of child

PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — A Port Jervis man who recently moved from Sussex County has been arrested and charged with several counts of rape and other criminal charges against a child.

Robert Mackerley Jr., 42, was charged with three counts of first-degree rape, three counts of second-degree rape, two counts of criminal sexual act, three counts of luring a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Although Port Jervis police were only able to verify that Mackerley had moved over the past few months from New Jersey to Port Jervis, N.Y., Mackerley's Facebook page indicates that he once lived in Franklin and had resided in Vernon.

In addition, two Sussex County residents told the New Jersey Herald that Mackerley had once resided in Sussex County, with one indicating that he had moved out of Vernon less than a year ago.

According to Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, a family member of the victim had called police to report a complaint after they had “discovered a disturbance.”

The disturbance, Worden said, stemmed from allegations of sexual assault against a young female.

Worden said that Mackerley was arraigned on his charges in front of Judge Matthew Witherow in Port Jervis City Court and remains in the Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail pending further court appearances.

Anyone with information pertaining to this crime is encouraged to call the Port Jervis City Police Detective Bureau at 845-858-4003.

Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.